Success in Social Commerce Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Success in Social Commerce - Research Paper Example By the end, we draw the growth pattern of social commerce chronologically on the basis of business articles and educational publications starting from 2005 to 2011. A structure that unites people, administration, expertise, and the information scope is used to present an organized study of the progress of social commerce. Our assessment portrays that from 2005, the year the terminology social commerce had begun to be used, suppositions and perception of individual in social commerce moved from a universal depiction of human nature to an intensive research with diverse perspectives from social psychology to social culture, and economic environments. According to the administrative aspect, business plans and model develop from the short-tail to long-tail thinking with innovative notions such as branded social communities, forte social networks/communities, niche brands along with joint purchasing, and multichannel social systems (Wang & Zhang, 2012). According to our assessment, the ni che social networks/communities give power to smaller businesses in the cut throat commerce world. Success in Social Commerce Introduction Alongside the attractiveness and profitable achievement of social networking sites and different kinds of social channels, the term social commerce was envisaged in the year 2005, portraying a rising phenomenon (Beisel, 2006). For argument sake, we precisely define social commerce as a type of business that is arbitrated by social media. Social commerce uses social channels that assist social communication and involvement of the users to support activities in the business of different products and services conducted both online and offline (Afrasiabi & Benyoucef, 2010). It signifies prospective business opportunities that merge shopping and social networking via social media. The social media users enjoy many online activities that are similar to the offline activity mode, the online difference being the mode of attaining the activities, such as online shopping, online interaction with friends and so on. The challenge for the social media is to give a satisfactory experience to online users so that they switch to the online mode of shopping and socializing. Referral economy is a new category of e-commerce that is basically gaining from the positive aspects of information technology (Harkin, 2007). Discussion Social commerce where vendors advertise through social networks or intensely incorporate social media into the purchase procedure is already consumed by several major brands globally. Many brands advertise their products and services on the social media platforms and with this advertisement they are able to reach a wide audience. It is little in terms of profits but has a vivid – although uncertain – future (Brito, 2011). In technological terms, IT competencies and potential for social commerce develops from blogs, to social networking sites, to sites that share media and to smart phones. Despite the fact that Facebook becomes a moneymaking platform, developing the idea of f-commerce, Google and Twitter became tough competitors with immense possibilities as well (Gordon, 2007). The competition level in the social media platforms is immense and each social media platform has to provide some unique feature which is not present in other platforms.

Ownership as such does not matter relative to the conditions of Essay

Ownership as such does not matter relative to the conditions of competition and regulation - Essay Example From the path that different nations have followed with regards to their individual privatization drives, the most notable point that comes forth is that there should be the creation of a regulatory agency beforehand to oversee the process. It has also been shown that effective introduction of competition within market sectors (that means both within existing state-owned firms and the firms that have been handed to private entities as part of privatization) has ensured rapid acceleration of the economy. Any such that regulatory agency must be free from any outside influence by the government and must prove as an interface to investors and must also work towards monitoring and managing the concerns of the producers and consumers alike. In other words, a regulatory agency, if it has to be successful, must treat state-owned and private entities alike, which is the reason it has to remain free of any form of influence. It is also deemed appropriate to mention the need of a regulatory agency, which is created out of the fact that any form of transformation of an economy cannot happen in an instant and requires a substantial period of time, during which there needs to be a watchdog that can always be on the lookout of discrepancies and initiate the requisite actions. Experiences from previous attempts at privatization have suggested that the economy has better progressed when there has been the introduction of effective competition wherever possible. The government would have to consider the pros and cons of introducing such competition, most importantly on the costs. At the micro level, the implications on the purchasing powers of consumers and the costs incurred for procuring raw materials etc. need to be considered thoroughly. PART 2: TREND OF PRIVATIZATION When it comes to the type of ownership and its influence on the competition (with regards to the cost of production), Pollitt has mentioned that there has been no notable difference in the cost of production as part of a study conducted by him on countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, France, Greece and Germany. This may seem to be what was originally expected among theorists, but this has been the case in almost the entire developed world1.Another point that needs special mention here is that the pattern of privatization has been so varied among countries that there are no specific set of parameters that may be used to judge its effectiveness, thus leading researchers to follow different paths towards studying the phenomena. It is in this regard that privatization is studied in close relationship with various factors and concepts such as ownership, competition and regulation. In fact, Zhang has pointed to the fact the distortion in the results of studies on privatization were due t o the fact that all such studies had been concentrating on the type of ownership alone. Thus, other factors such as the competition within the market and the role played by regulatory agencies were not given any significance.Over the years, the trend and pattern of privatization has heavily relied upon how resources should be regulated and has also been dependent on the manner in which they should be organized and utilized appropriately. According to Vickers &

Huckleberry Finn vs. Tom Sawyer Essay Example for Free

Huckleberry Finn vs. Tom Sawyer Essay Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are very different characters. I think that is what made them such great friends. Tom is always out to have a good time and doesn’t care who he hurts to do it. Huck always follows Tom’s lead even though sometimes he shouldn’t. Huck Finn grew up in a very rough environment. His father was a drunk who would disappear for months on random occasions. Huck is typically dirty and homeless. Eventually he goes to live with Widow Douglas who continually tries to reform Huck, but he resists and keeps his own ways. He said â€Å"The Widow Douglas she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldn’t stand it no longer I lit out. I got into my old rags and my sugar-hogshead again, and was free and satisfied.†(2) Huck is also a follower mostly of his good friend Tom. â€Å"But Tom Sawyer he hunted me up and said he was going to start a band of robbers, and I might join if I would go back to the widow and be respectable. So I went back.† (2) This is really the first time Huck has been educated and is taught about religion. Huck grew up in a much tougher environment then his close friend Tom, but he still has a good heart and was an easy going guy. He says â€Å"We said there wasn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.† (42) Tom is Huck’s best friend. They are about the same age but grew up in completely different situation. Tom grew up in white middle class family in a nice comfortable environment. Tom is clearly the leader of the two because Huck is always following his lead. Huck says â€Å"Tom told me what his plan was, and I see in a minute it was worth fifteen of mine for style, and would make Jim just as free a man as mine would, and maybe get us all killed besides. So I was satisfied, and said we would waltz in on it.† (66) Also Huck says â€Å"Tom Sawyer wouldn’t back out so I won’t.† Another thing that is different is Tom is willing to keep a secret that hurts a lot of people. He knows Mrs. Watson has died, but keeps it a secret for his own enjoyment. He could have told and Jim would have been free, but all he cared about was his plan to escape and how fun it was going to be. You  can clearly see the differences between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. There are many examples in the book that show that. Tom is the leader and Huck is the follower. The biggest difference is the morals of the two. Tom kept a secret that hurt people and all Huck wanted to do was free Jim. After everything said Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are best friends. They get along so well and will be friends for life.

Orthotics in Neurology: Disorders, Treatment and Causes

Orthotics in Neurology: Disorders, Treatment and Causes Contents (Jump to) Introduction Explanation Disorders Posture and Gait: Deformity: Muscle Weakness: Contractures and Spasticity: Sensory problems: Autonomic Functions: Treatment Causes Conclusion Bibliography Introduction Orthotics refers to all kind of problems related to the shape, function and posture of the body and all part it contains. Since all the parts of the body and their movement are associated with the brain, thus orthotics is highly related to neurology. Orthotics in neurology encompasses all the elements that relate to the functioning of muscles, organs and joints which are utterly controlled by the nerves which carry the orders of a brain to the respective body part. The problems that can occur due to bone disorders and neurological deficits are limb problems, joint complications and abnormalities in locomotion system. Besides these, there are certain minor problems too that may turn into major abnormalities if orthotics occurs in neurology (Houlden, Charlton, Singh, 2007). The initial indicator of orthotics is identified by a defect in the motor neurons that carry the message from the brain to the parts of the body. When a defect in a motor neuron is diagnosed, it becomes crucial for the individual to consult an orthotic consultant so that the disorder can be minimized at the very stage. The most common disorders that occur as a result of disorders in lower motor neurons are: traumatic peripheral nerve lesions and neuromuscular disorders. The disorders related to the upper motor neurons are often regarded as stroke and vertebral palsy. These disorders are commonly as chronic conditions like poliomyelitis etc. these are the most usual type of disorders the result due to orthotics in neurology and to cure such abnormalities at mild stage or at developed stage, neurologist, psychiatrist or orthotics expert must be consulted (Houlden, Charlton, Singh, 2007). Explanation To overcome the diseases of orthotics, an appropriate diagnosis is needed to avoid extreme consequences of disorders. To get the disorders diagnosed at initial stages, it is recommended to get regular electro-diagnostic investigations, radiological and routine blood tests. Moreover, genetic testing is most commonly used and positive results will give the assurance of negligence offensive procedures. Disorders The most common disorders that are diagnosed as a result of orthotics in neurology are given as follows: Posture and Gait: Such kind of disorders of neuromuscular relates to the typical patterns of muscular movements such as ataxic and waddling gait, high stoppage gait, drop foot gait and spastic gait (Houlden, Charlton, Singh, 2007). Deformity: These disorders occur when muscles get weak; it results in instability in joints. The most common consequences are limb floppy and flail which results in balanced paralysis. This is most common when one of the muscles become weak in a group of muscles and loses its strength to carry out functions of controlling the movements and locomotion in the body. The deformity is surely curable when it is diagnosed in the initial stages (Houlden, Charlton, Singh, 2007). Muscle Weakness: This is caused due to disorders in the lower or upper motor muscle disorder and neurons lesions (Houlden, Charlton, Singh, 2007). Contractures and Spasticity: These are the most frequently occurring orthotics disorders found in the neurology, they are mainly caused due to any defect incurred in the upper motor neuron lesions. It results in the contraction of muscles of no proper treatment is done on time. The exercise recommended for its cure is muscles stretching. The contractures result due to disorders in lower neuron as well. Spasticity is painful which can damage the activities of daily routine. Sensory problems: These are major symptoms of pain and may result into extreme consequences of disorders in neuropathic joints, ulcers and pressure sores etc. Autonomic Functions: These are the disorders in involuntary functioning of the system of an individual. They can be recurring in nature and highly disabling as they result from the abnormality of high sweating, sphincter control, increased or decreased heartbeat or pulse rate and unstable blood pressure etc. (Houlden, Charlton, Singh, 2007). Treatment For the purpose of treatment of such abnormalities in the human body, it is essential to consult an orthotics consultant, physician, neurologist or pharmaceutical clinical staff that can help minimizing the disorders experienced by the individual. The main emphasis of treatment order is considered steady and long term in which patient is diagnosed on the regular basis and certain physical exercises with the adequate dose of medicine are prescribed. This results in steady improvement in the neurons of the patient as in case of neurology abrupt and intense treatments are used rarely only when there is no option left because treating the neurons is recommended for a lighter and ongoing process which reduces the symptoms of disease and minimizes intensity of disorders (Wade, 2013). The physical exercises are highly recommended in case of orthotics disorders. The exercises may include stretching of uses every now and then, this increases the flow of blood circulation to the muscles and also improves the ability of neurons to receive and send orders from and to the brain in an effective manner. This eliminates the possibility of any disorder caused due to lack of functioning of the muscles. A process called self-management is majorly recommended to all those who seek ways to overcome orthotics in neurology. This relates to managing the stability of functioning of neurons by your own self. The management can be done by scheduling the routines of exercising in order to improve both physical and mental health. The stretching of muscles and continuous routine of running, jogging or walk helps in reducing the chances of abnormalities or disorder problems related to heart, brain, and muscles. This is because medicine merely is a formula that dissolves in the blood and improves the functioning. But exercise is a continuous process that keeps the muscles of body in function which increases circulation of blood, improves heartbeat and pulse rate, enhances the efficiency of neurons ability to receive and send messages of brain, advances the reflex action and controllability element in the human body. Thus, the foremost suggested way to overcome orthotics disorders is to maintain a routine of exercise. Even after exercising the neuron shows disorders as a side effect of any other disease then the dose of proper medicine must be scheduled (Wade, 2013). Causes These disorders are often caused by consuming drugs or alcoholic products. The overuse of such drugs highly affects the neurons and make them damage or causes the cells of the nervous system to die which results in disability or malfunctioning of neurons. The other causes can be irregular eating habits, consumption of carbonated drinks or high intake of junk food etc. all these products affects directly or indirectly to the neurons which may cause the disability in their functioning. Sometimes, orthotics can be caused by being overweight or underweight which exerts high pressure on the brain and thus the neurons are adversely affected. In few cases, such disabilities are found genetic in the individual who may or may not be diagnosed in early age but becomes prominent when the person reaches maturity (Wade, 2013). Conclusion Orthotics in neurology has an overall impact on the entire human body, its structure, and systems and the neurology holds and controls all the functioning of an organism. The disorders of orthotics are controllable if proper exercise is made mandatory in the daily routine. Alongside, regular checkups of blood pressure and pulse rate etc. are recommended to get notices of any disorder incurred in the neurons of the body. A periodic meeting with the clinician must be scheduled to get noticed of every change being occurring in the system. Further, to avoid such disorder healthy diets are suggested with the minimal use of drugs and related items. All these help the body to maintain its normality. On the whole, healthy activities with healthy food are suggested to overcome the chances of orthotics in neurology as its occurrence can be dangerous for health. Bibliography Houlden, H., Charlton, P., Singh, D. (2007). Neurology and Orthopaedics. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 78(3), 224–232. Retrived from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2117631/ Wade, D. T. (2013). Stroke rehabilitation: the evidence. In: Greenwood RJ, Barnes MP, McMillan TM, Ward CD, eds. Handbook of neurological rehabilitation, 7-25.

To the Editor :: Weapons Mass Destruction War Essays

To the Editor There is [I1] no proof of weapons of weapons of mass destruction, and little substantial evidence that Saddam Hussein Supported Al Qaeda. For the last year and one half, George W. Bush and his administration have told us about Iraq’s vast production of biological weapons and how Iraq was supporting Al Qaeda, but where’s the proof. [I2] The two main reasons the United States invaded Iraq were because, of stock piles of weapons and Saddam Hussein's link to Al Qaeda . Let’s start with the weapons of mass destruction. There were [I3] several satellite photos showing buildings that were suspected to be making chemicals for germ warfare and other various chemical weapons. These photos show only buildings and no other proof that Iraq was making these bombs. The U.S. still had the United Nations weapons inspectors investigate these findings and report them to the Security Council. The U.N.’s Chief weapons inspector Hans Blix Reported there was not significant evidence from ariel photos to prove there were any chemical weapons. Hans Blix said himself, â€Å"If I had solid evidence that Iraq retained weapons of mass destruction or were constructing such weapons I would have taken it to the Security Council.† Shortly after these findings were reported, President Bush prepared a speech accusing Baghdad of building such weapons. This shows before the U.S. even went to war in Iraq , there was little to no evidence to i nvade Iraq, at least because of weapons of mass destruction. [I4] To this date, the U.S. has not found any substantial evidence to support it’s [I5] actions in Iraq. In April of 2003 shortly after the invasion started, semi trailers were seized near Baghdad. The trailers were suspected to be portable labs to produce biological warfare agents. The trailers and their contents were soon tested to see weather they had any of the five main biological warfare agents. All tests were returned negative of these chemical agents. As this shows, there is [I6] no proof of weapons of mass destruction, even after the U.S. had invaded and occupied Iraq for the last year and a half.

A Critical Essay on Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher (1

The twenty first century author Alexandra Iftodi Zamfir (1986- ) argues that â€Å"architecture and settings are more important in Gothic fiction than in any other type of literature†¦all architectural elements are closely connected with Gothic protagonists and the plot.† (Zamfir. 2011: 15). This critical essay will first consider and analyse this statement and investigate the style, language and form of the American author Edgar Allan Poe’s (1809-1849) macabre and Gothic fictional prose The Fall of the House of Usher (1839) (Poe. 1987: 1). I shall present and argue how the artistic effects deployed in the narrative structure create an atmosphere of tension and suspense, through the exploration of architectural space demonstrated in a close reading and analysis from key passages of the text. The Fall of the House of Usher was written by the American author and poet Edgar Allan Poe, it first featured as a Gothic short story in Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine in (1839) (Hayes. 2002: xvii). Poe was writing at a time of immense change to social, economic and cultural conditions following the technological advancements of the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850), his work on The Fall of the House of Usher could be said to show an impact of Western society’s internal and external fragmentation. (Montagna: 2006). As stated by Zamfir â€Å"the universe portrayed in the House of Usher is Poe’s most sublime†¦in humanizing a dwelling to portray the inner self of the Gothic hero, but it also represents an investigation of the self in a state of disintegration.† (Zamfir. 2011: 62). This process of disintegration is both reflected within the architectural structure of the house itself; as the building gradually corrodes, in addition to that of the ps... ..._of_Space_in_Gothic_Architecture. [Accessed 11th May 2012] Giordano, R. (2005-2011) Poestories.com: An Exploration of Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe. [On-line] Available from: http://www.poestories.com/. [Accessed 24th September 2011] Gunn, A.G. (1997-2002) Cyclopaedia of Ghost Story Writers. [On-line] Available from: http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~agg/ghosts/#poeea. [Accessed 24th September 2011] Hallqvist, C. (2001) The Poe Decoder. [On-line] Available from: http://www.poedecoder.com/. [Accessed 24th September 2011] Montagna, J.A. (2006) The Industrial Revolution. [On-line] Available from: http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1981/2/81.02.06.x.html. [Accessed 11th May 2012] Pridmore, J. (1998-2011) Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849). [On-line] Available from: http://www.literaryhistory.com/19thC/Poe.htm. [Accessed 24th September 2011]

Street Dreams and Hip Hop Barber Shops Critique

Brad Weiss’s ethnographic research on popular culture, hanging out in barbershops and bus stands, seamstress tables and video halls, was carried out in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha. In â€Å"Street Dreams and Hip Hop Barber Shops† Weiss does a great job observing the everyday life of the people in Arusha. He explores how globalization and neoliberalism affect the mindset of a community and shows the reader how gender role, media, and self-fashioning can play a big role in a person life. Weiss’s fieldwork and observation is very accurate and informative for the most part but looses the reader in some of the topics that he presents. Brad Weiss does a great job in his chapter on gender and the role that it plays in the community of Arusha. Much of the book has been focused on the expressions of masculinity and the understandings of men that are concerned with gendered personhood, many young men in Arusha comprehend themselves and their relationships with one another in terms of what they imagine women and femininity to be like. But Weiss takes a chapter to turn to women’s practices to show how the cultural process of perception and embodiment allude to the iconography of western culture. Weiss revealed to the reader that women like to keep up with the times in Arusha just like men and they are very conscious about their look and the way they present themselves. Men use magazines and catalogues to keep up with the latest trends but women are one step ahead and use commercials and movies to stay updated. Weiss’s observation was very informative and accurate. This observation proves that globalization can influence people all around the world and have a big effect on a society. Weiss regularly shows the importance of globalization in his writing. His observation on the youth of Arusha was very precise and shows the reader how globalization and neoliberalism can shape a persons life immensely. Weiss tells the reader that through hip hop posters and magazines the younger generation of Arusha use it as a guide for fashion, music and lifestyle. This illustrates how the themes of inclusion and exclusion that shape popular practice-from the assertive modes gendered performances at bus stands and hair salons, to the fashion sense of tailors and their clients, to the viewing preferences of video audiences-operate in Arusha. He explains to the reader that the young men and women of Arusha are social actors who try to find a niche and struggle to participate in a world that is significant for them. I strongly agree with Weiss’s point and believe that every young person in any society are social actors who try to fit in a world that they feel is right for them and use popular culture and globalization as a tool to get there. Brad Weiss does a great job showing the reader that barbershops around Tanzania are more than just a place for getting a haircut. He explains to the reader in great detail that the people of Tanzania see barbershops as a place for obtaining news, catching up on the latest trends, gossip, discovering new music, or just simply hanging out. Barbershops provide men with a â€Å"chance†, an â€Å"opportunity† or a â€Å"place† during times of uncertainty. Weiss spends most of his time at barbershops because it is a great place for studying popular culture and allows him to see what the clients at these barber shops find interesting. There were some things that I found problematic in Weiss’s writing that can turn off some readers. Some parts of the book he tends to over analyze and bore the reader with useless facts. I found myself being turned off during some parts of the book where he begins to ramble on and on. In the introduction chapter he doesn't do a good job of catching the readers attention and takes a long time to get to his point. His writing sometimes ends up being very difficult to read and enjoy at the same time and I found some chapters extremely tedious. Weiss’s writing style can be very uninteresting and dull in the beginning of the book but he later compensates by providing interesting topics and arguments. One thing I really like about Weiss’s writing is that he interacts with the people of Tanzania and takes time to show the reader their story and what they go through in his writing. In one chapter he tells the story of two barbers named Hussein and Ahmed who cut hair at the â€Å"Bad Boyz† barbershop. He provides an ethnographic backdrop to the kinds of activities that go on in the shops and streets. This helps the reader better understand the thought process of the people that Weiss comes across and what they go through on a daily basis. It also gives the reader a different perspective on the effects of neoliberalism and globalization through the eyes of the people in Tanzania. Throughout the book Brad Weiss provides the reader with good background information about the people he observes and tells the reader their story. I find it very useful that he takes time in his writing to make sure the reader understands exactly what is going on instead of just presenting his observations. I was very impressed by how accurate Brad Weiss’s observations were about barbershops and the people that go there in Tanzania. I believe in third world countries barbershops serve as a place for great social activity and exposure to the western culture, people rely on barbershops keep up with the times. When I visited Bangladesh couple summers ago I noticed that most people who go to barbershops go there to socialize and keep up with the latest trends that are coming from the west instead of actually getting a haircut. Just like in Weiss’s writing about the people in Tanzania, Bangladeshi barbershops also have cut posters from magazines decorated around the shop of musicians and athletes and share many of the same characteristics. Overall I found â€Å"Street Dreams and Hip Hop Barbershops† very informative. For the most part I enjoyed reading about the topics and arguments Brad Weiss presented in his work. He did a good job informing the readers about the norms of the Tanzanian society and had a lot of interesting observations. I believe in his writing he had more strengths than weaknesses. Even though some chapters were dull and hard to read Weiss provides interesting information to the reader make up for his flaws. I learned from this book that globalization can integrate societies from all around the world more easily than I previously thought. Exposure to things like food, music, movies and fashion can have a great effect on a group of people from country that doesn't have much culture. Globalization is like a ripple effect that can change the thought process and way of life of an individual and â€Å"Street Dream and Hip Hop Barbershops† did a good job showing that effect.